QDN e-News 11 August 2023
Instructions for downloading the video transcript
Open the video in YouTube. Click on ‘More Options’ (three dots below the video on the right-hand side). Select ‘Open Transcript’ from the drop-down menu that appears. Once you click ‘Open Transcript’, copy and paste all the lines of text to an editor of your choice to have a complete transcript that you can edit.
Final sitting of the Disability Royal Commission
You are invited to attend the final sitting of the Disability Royal Commission in September. The ceremonial sitting on Friday 15 September won’t hear evidence but is a way to thank the many groups and individuals who contributed to the work. The Chair of the Royal Commission and all Commissioners will take part. The ceremonial closing sitting is the last major event before the Final report is handed to the Governor-General, due by Friday, 29 September. All are welcome to attend but booking is essential.
Details
Where: The Shangri-La in Sydney, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
When: 10am
For those who can’t make it in person, the sitting will be streamed with Auslan interpreters and live captioning. Find more information or register here: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/public-hearings/ceremonial-closing-sitting
Memorial plaque for Wendy Lovelace installed at Bulimba Ferry Terminal
A memorial plaque for QDN Life Member Wendy Lovelace (AM) was recently installed at Bulimba Ferry Terminal in acknowledgement and recognition of her work and advocacy. Wendy was a longtime resident of Bulimba and did incredible work advocating for accessible ferry terminals and ferries among countless other achievements.
Free flu vaccines for Queenslanders
From July 22 to August 31, pharmacies and GPs across the state will be giving out these vaccines to anyone aged 6 months and older. Influenza is spreading in our community. But here's the good news: getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness and avoid ending up in the hospital. For more details, visit the Queensland Health website here: https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/what-to-vaccinate-against/influenza
Let your friends, family, and neighbours know. Because when it comes to our health, we're all in this together.
NDIS Review
The NDIS review is still occurring and it's important that we get feedback on all the elements of the NDIS Review report, so really encourage people to provide their feedback to QDN and really encourage people to provide their feedback to QDN and submissions are due on the 25 August.
For more details, visit the NDIS Review website here: https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/resources/reports/what-we-have-heard-report
Make Renting Fair in Queensland – share your story
What would you do if your rent went up tomorrow? Would you struggle to afford the increase? Would you be forced to look for a new place to live? That's the reality for Queensland tenants every day. The Queensland Government is considering stage 2 rental reforms, but it’s not too late to have your say.
You can send a letter to your MP using this link: https://makerentingfairqld.org.au/get-involved/writing-to-your-mp
QDN is looking for your stories and experiences as a tenant. If you have a story you would like to share, please contact QDN at qdn@qdn.org.au or 1300 363 783.
Read the latest blogs from our QBloggers
Did you know QDN has its own blogging community? Being a QBlogger is a chance to grow and learn from one another's experiences and expertise and help generate ideas for future policy and advocacy work. You can create a blog by filming a video, recording a podcast, or writing a post, with the QDN communications team available to support you if you need.
Read the latest posts here: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qbloggers/
Policy update
Local Housing Action Plans in remote council areas
Local Housing Action Plans have now been completed in 22 remote councils as a commitment under the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-25. The action plans are designed to help address the housing challenges faced by regional and remote Queensland through identifying needs, solutions and coordinating responses. A further 38 councils are completing local housing action plans by 2024.
Find out more information: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/98354
Short term accommodation reviews complete
The Queensland government recently contracted the University of Queensland to undertake an independent review of short-term rental accommodation across Queensland as part of planning reforms to create more housing supply in the current housing crisis. The review found that housing supply has much bigger impact on rental costs than short term rentals such as Airbnb, Stayz etc, however a key recommendation of the review was to create a short-term rental registration system.
Summary of findings:
- In the first quarter of 2023, there were 19,773 active short-term rentals across Queensland. Of those 11,193 were estimated to be used on a permanent basis. Two-thirds are located within the South-East.
- An increase of 10% in the total number of short term rental listings could lead to a contribution in the range of 0.2% to 0.5% towards rent price changes.
- An 10% increase in the overall stock of dwellings could lead to a noteworthy decrease in rent prices, ranging from 1% to 2%.
Draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing
The Australian Government is developing a National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing to strengthen partnerships between health policy makers and the community. The strategy will articulate a person-centred prevention system by involving communities and consumers in health policy design and implementation.
Feedback is currently being sought on the draft Strategy. You can contribute your views via an online survey which closes Monday 4 September 2023.
South East Queensland Regional Plan draft
The draft regional plan for South East Queensland was released on 2 August 2023 and is open for community consultation until the end of September 2023. The plan includes a target of 20% social and affordable housing in South East Queensland. You can find out more including how to provide comment on the draft plan at: https://shapingseq.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/
Measuring What Matters framework
The first National Measuring What Matters framework has been released and is designed to better track outcomes in Australia’s society and economy. The measures are in addition to the more traditional economic ways of measuring such as GDP, employment, wages, and inflation. The Framework has five wellbeing themes, supported by 12 dimensions, and 50 key indicators.
You can find out more here: https://treasury.gov.au/policy-topics/measuring-what-matters
Shifting Minds 2023-2028
The next version of Shifting Minds has been released. This strategic document sets the priorities for the next five years to promote mental health and wellbeing for all Queenslanders. The plan is focused on prevention, early intervention, and community-based services and supports.
More information: https://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/shifting-minds-2023-2028
What's on
Families and 'Us': Working alongside parents with intellectual disability, Brisbane
Join the Community Living Association Inc. for an informative and engaging event exploring ways to support families where a parent has intellectual disability. The event will bring together parents, with lived experience, social work and allied and health professionals, legal practitioners, disability workers, and academics to explore what it takes to ensure the rights of parents with intellectual disability are upheld. The program includes presentations from parents with lived experience, a panel with parents with lived experience, practitioners and representatives from Child Safety and NDIA. Dr Margaret Spencer (University of Sydney) will share her work in this field focusing on engagement and supported decision making. Morning tea and lunch will be provided by Nundah Community Enterprise Co-op's amazing Espresso Train.
Date: Tuesday 29 August
Time: 8:45am (for a 9am start) – 4pm
Location: Australian Catholic University, Brisbane Campus, 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo
Free webinars for Queensland Multicultural Month
We are a state of many cultures and many languages – almost a quarter of Queenslanders are born overseas, and many of us have at least one parent born in a country other than Australia. Each week during the month of August, you can participate in Queensland Multicultural Month's webinar series to explore thought-provoking topics to build your skills, knowledge and capabilities.
- 23 August - Panel discussion: “Is the CALD label still relevant?”
- 28 August - Intercultural encounters: How (not) to handle a conversation
All webinars are free - registration is essential.
Learn more: https://www.des.qld.gov.au/multicultural-queensland-month/get-involved/webinars
DIDRR
Learn how to plan for your support needs in emergencies such as floods, cyclones, bushfires, and heatwaves at a free disaster preparedness workshop for people with disability, presented by people with disability.
Get Ready, Plan Ahead Somerset – Esk
Part A: Tuesday 15 August
Part B: Tuesday 29 August
Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Somerset Civic Centre, the Auditorium, 35 Esk Hampton Rd, Esk
Get Ready, Plan Ahead Somerset – Toogoolawah
Part A: Friday 18 August
Part B: Friday 1 September
Time: 11 am – 2pm
Location: Carinity Our House, 27 Gardner St, Toogoolawah
Peer Support Groups
- Tablelands PSG Tuesday 15th August Mareeba Library 10:30 – 12:30
- Brisbane PSG Wednesday 16th August 10:30-12:30 QDN office and via Zoom
- Deception Bay PSG Wednesday 16th August 10.30- 12.30 Deception Bay Darts Club
- Unique Parenting PSG Friday 18th August 11am – 1pm QDN Office and Zoom
- Ipswich PSG Saturday 19th August 10am – 12pm Club Services Ipswich CSI Table 31
- QDN Peer Leaders Meeting with Chairperson Tuesday 22th August 4pm – 5pm Zoom
- Toowoomba PSG Wednesday 30th August 1pm-3pm Toowoomba City Library and via Zoom
- Self-Management PSG Wednesday 30th August 4pm-5.30pm via Zoom
- Sunshine Coast Wednesday 30th August 10:30 – 12:30 TBA
- Cairns PSG Thursday 31st August 3.30pm – 5.30pm at Rights In Action or Zoom
- Brisbane Hot Topics Friday 25th August 9am – 12pm QDN Office and Zoom
- LBGTQIA+ PSG Friday 25th August 4.30pm – 6:30pm via Zoom
- Caboolture PSG Saturday 26th August 11am – 1pm Caboolture Sports Club
Regional Disability Expos across Queensland
Regional Disability Expos are happening across Queensland in May and August. Exhibitions will have on offer a range of services, equipment, networks and specialists, giving you the ability to find everything you need in one easy to find location.
- Fraser Coast – Friday 18 August 2023
- Toowoomba – Friday 6 October 2023
- Sunshine Coast – Thursday 19 October 2023
More information here: https://disabilityexposc.com.au/
QDN Membership
If you or someone you know would like to be a QDN member apply here: https://qdn.org.au/membership/qdn-member-application/
